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A man dedicated to making life better... one person at a time.
"When you put your life in perspective, you realize
how little time there is to make something truly significant
out of it. To some people this might mean acquiring a lot
of possessions, building a business or owning property.
There's nothing wrong with these aspirations, but for me,
they pale in comparison to individuals who want to leave
something more consequential as their legacy."
- Bill Daniels
Bill Daniels, who achieved significant business success, realized
that he was extremely fortunate. He believed that everyone comes
into this world with an innate and unique potential for success
and fulfillment.
By sharing his wealth, Bill hoped to provide the means for more
people to realize their unique potential. The Daniels Fund is
the culmination of Bill's lifetime of giving. Through the work
of the Daniels Fund, Bill hoped that others would be inspired
to give of themselves.
More about Bill Daniels
Bill Daniels was one of those remarkable individuals who achieved
success through a combination of perseverance and good fortune.
As a young man, he was the undefeated Golden Gloves Champion
of New Mexico. In World War II and the Korean War, he was a naval
fighter pilot who retired as Full Commander in the U.S. Navy.
As one of the pioneers in cable television, he went on to own
and operate hundreds of cable TV systems in virtually every state
in the country. The firm he founded, Daniels & Associates,
is nationally recognized as a leading provider of investment banking
services to media and technology companies.
An avid sports fan, Bill was one of the first cable leaders to
focus on sports programming, giving impetus to today's highly
popular regional sports networks. He also sponsored heavyweight
boxing champions, served as president of the American Basketball
Association, was a founder of the United States Football League,
and was an owner of several professional sports teams, including
a stake in the Los Angeles Lakers.
A Lifetime of Giving...
While Bill was widely known and respected for his leadership
role in the sports and cable industries, he became equally respected
for his humanitarian endeavors.
Bill long believed that people fortunate enough to succeed have
a responsibility to help others who may not have had the same
advantages. As a result, over the years he made countless charitable
contributions and gave back to the community in some highly creative
and meaningful ways.
He helped found Cenikor, a nonprofit rehabilitation center for
drug addicts, alcoholics, and people with criminal behavior problems.
With his plane, he set a world speed record for business jets
while raising $300,000 for Junior Achievement. He donated his
$7 million mansion, Cableland, to Denver so that the city would
have an official mayoral residence. He also was a long-time supporter
of several organizations serving young people and those in need
in metro Denver.
Young Americans Bank
Bill's most notable philanthropic projects to date have been his
pioneering efforts in education. Recognizing the value of learning
financial responsibility at a young age, Bill founded the Young
Americans Bank in 1987 to provide a full range of banking services
to children and young adults. Investing more than $7 million to
establish the bank and continually subsidize its expenses, the
institution remains the world's only chartered bank exclusively
for young people.
Daniels College of Business
When the bank became fully operational, Bill turned his attention
to another personal concern. He felt greater educational effort,
particularly at the college and university level, should be placed
on integrity, ethics, and people skills. To help address this,
he donated more than $20 million to the University of Denver in
support of a graduate business school that stresses such basic
values as honesty, accountability, and community-mindedness. Today,
DU's Daniels College of Business has gained national prominence
for its ethics-based curriculum.
Enhancing the Potential of Individuals and Communities
Bill brought his unique style to all his philanthropic endeavors-a
very personal concern and involvement with individuals in need
and the organizations that served them. The Daniels Fund will
work in the same open, responsive spirit. Through the Daniels
College Prep and Scholarship Program and the Daniels Grants Program,
the Fund is developing dynamic relationships with the community
leaders who can help students, individuals, children, and families
to realize their potential.
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